Watertight flashlight with magnetic switch



Nov. 23, 1965 c, s. YOUNG 3,219,811

WATERTIGHT FLASHLIGHT WITH MAGNETIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 5, 1963 lm-llmmfl/26 l/Z -//4 a4 a 6 E8 Clyde .5. Young 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,219,811 WATERTIGHT F LASHLIGHT WITH MAGNETICSWITCH Clyde S. Young, Rockland, Maine (Martinicus, Maine) Filed Feb. 5,1963, Ser. No. 256,427 3 Claims. (Cl. 24010.66)

The present invention generally relates to a flashlight constructed in amanner to be completely sealed to prevent the entry of various types offluids such as water, gases or the like even at relatively highpressures thereby enabling the flashlight to be effectively employed byskin divers or other persons requiring the use of a light under watereven at great depths and also facilitating the use of the device bypersons encountering explosive gaseous mixtures and the like since theentire apparatus is completely sealed from the surrounding atmosphere.

An object of the present invention is to provide a flashlightconstructed in such a manner that the components thereof are securelyand positively sealed against entry of fluids even at high pressure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flashlighthaving a slidable permanent magnet mounted exteriorly of the casingwhich will operate a switch mechanism disposed interiorly of the casing,the particular construction of the switch being such as to prevent anypossible flashing of the light when the switch is in both the onposition andthe off position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a flashlight inaccordance with the preceding objects having a novel head constructionprovided with facing flanges each having an annular recess therein forreceiving a seal and partially receiving a plate glass lens therebyeffectively sealing the lens and the head of the flashlight.

Still a further feature of the invention is to provide a flashlighthaving a head in accordance with the preceding object together with anovel resilient coil spring which retains the reflector assembly inplace and also assures positive contact between the reflector assemblywhich holds the light bulb and the conductor which extends rearwardly ofthe casing for contact with the base of the dry cell battery through theswitch mechanism.

Yet another important feature of the present invention is to provide aflashlight having a permanent magnet movable to control an interiorswitch with the permanent magnet being held by its own magneticqualities in both positions thereby preventing the flashlight fromaccidentally being turned on or off by vibration or the like.

Still other features of the invention reside in its extreme simplicityof construction, dependability, ease of operation, effectiveness inproviding a fluidtight seal, capability of being manufactured indifferent sizes and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the flashlight of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear end view illustrating the switch operator assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view through the headportion of the flashlight;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view through the switchportion of the flashlight;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 55 of Patented Nov. 23, 1965 FIGURE 4illustrating the structural details of the switch mechanism; and

FIGURE 6 is a detailed plan sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 66 of FIGURE 4 illustrating furtherstructural details of the switch mechanism.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generallydesignates the flashlight of the present invention which is constructedwith an elongated tubular casing 12 preferably but not limited to acylindrical configuration. The casing 12 is preferably constructed ofinsulating material and such material may be in the form of a plastichaving any suitable color or being transparent if desired. The length ofthe casing 12 may vary depending upon the number of conventional drycells 14 which are to be employed. The flashlight of the presentinvention may be effectively used with a single dry cell or any desirednumber of dry cells and the dry cells may be of any conventional sizealthough the standard D size battery is preferred. The interior size ofthe casing 12 is just sufficient to closely receive the dry cellbatteries 14 but still sufficient in size to enable them to be readilyslid into and out of the casing 12 in a conventional manner.

At one end of the casing 12 there i provided a watertight head generallydesignated by the numeral 16 and at the other end there is provided awatertight switch assembly generally designated by the numeral 18.

The head assembly is illustrated in FIGURE 3 and includes an enlargedcylindrical portion 20 having a square or rectangular flange 22 at theinner end thereof. The flange 22 provides a supporting surface for theflashlight to prevent it from rolling when resting upon a supportingsurface. This is significant especially when used on a boat or the likewhich is subject to considerable movement due to wave action and thelike. Thus, the flange 22 provides stability for the flashlight so thatit will stay in the position in which it is laid. Also, the flange 22 isprovided with apertures 24 therein for receiving a suitable tether line,hook or the like for securing the flashlight to a support such as someportion of the equipment of a skin diver or the like. This also willenable the flashlight to be supported on a vertical wall surface such asthe bulkhead of a ship, boat or the like thereby facilitating thestorage of the flashlight when not in use.

Disposed outwardly of the enlarged portion 20 is a similar enlarged cap26. The enlarged cap 26 and the portion 20 are both of cylindricalconfiguration although this configuration may vary if desired. Extendingbetween and through the cap 26 and portion 20 are a plurality ofclamping bolts or screws 28 having rounded heads 30 on one end thereofand retaining nuts 32 on the other which may be conventional polygonalnuts, wing nuts or any other suitable types of clamping nuts. Also, theheads 30 may vary between the round headed arrangement illustrated toany other conventional head. The bolts 28 are constructed of materialimpervious to corrosive action of sea water such as brass, bronze,nonmagnetic stainless steel or the like.

The retaining cap 26 has an enlarged central bore 34 which terminates atits inner end in a recess 36 receiving an annular gasket or seal ring 38and receiving a portion of the periphery of a plate glass lens 40whichis circular in configuration. The cylindrical portion 20 includesan enlarged central bore 42 in alignment with the bore 34 and the outerend of the bore 42 is provided with an annular recess 44 comparable tothe recess 36 and the rec ess 44 receives an annular sealing gasket orseal ring 46 similar to the seal ring 38 and also a portion of theperiphery of the plate glass lens 40. This prevents the seal rings fromslipping out under high pressures. The combined thicknesses of the lens40 and the seal rings 38 and 46 is more than the distance between theopposed surfaces of the recesses 36 and 44 thus spacing the cap 26 fromthe portion and enabling the clamp bolts 28 to be tightened evenlythereby compressing the seal rings 38 and 46 for effectively sealing theplate glass lens to the cylindrical portion 20 and forming a fluidtightclosure for the bore 42 thereby preventing entry of liquids, gases orother pressurized fluids even at relatively high pressures.

Disposed in the cylindrical portion 20 is a reflector assembly 48 havinga conventional bulb 50 mounted therein and retained in position by ascrew-threaded base 52 having a contact grommet 54 engaging the centerterminal 56 on the dry cell 14. The reflector assembly is ofconventional construction and is received in a corresponding recess orbore 56 in the cylindrical portion 20 which forms a transition from theinterior bore of the casing 12 to the bore 42 for removably receivingthe reflector assembly 48.

The outer end of the reflector assembly 48 is provided with a flange 58disposed at one edge of an annular groove 60 formed at the inner end ofthe bore 42. The groove 60 receives a retaining coil spring 62 which issnapped into the grooves 60 and due to its natural resiliency expandsinto the groove 60 which is sufliciently deep to receive a major portionof the cross-sectional area of the spring 62 thereby serving to retainthe spring within the groove and at the same time retain pressureagainst the outer face of the flange 58 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. Thisassures contact between the reflector assembly 48 and an elongatedconductor 64 extending rearwardly of the casing and having a forward endextending partially around the flange 58 and in surface-contacttherewith which enables the reflector assembly to be removed withoutdisturbing the conductor 64. Thus, by removing the spring 62 which hasthe ends thereof slightly spaced, the reflector assembly may be removedfor replacing the bulb and also for repolishing the reflector surface ifthis becomes necessary although the reflector surface will not corrodedue to the fluidtight condition of the flashlight. The resilientcharacter of the spring 62 will assure that the reflector alwayscontacts the conductor 64 thereby assuring proper completion of theelectrical circuit insofar as the conductor 64 and reflector assemblyincluding the bulb is concerned.

The switch assembly at the opposite end of the casing 12 is illustratedin FIGURES 46 and includes a peripheral flange 66 integral with thecasing 12 together with a spiral coil compression spring 68 engaging thebase of the exterior casing of the dry cell battery 14. A plug 70 isdisposed in the end of the casing 12 in a permanent manner and includesa central screw-threaded member 72 extending therethrough which has theheaded end 74 engaging the base of the spring 68 for securing the springto the plug 70 and at the same time forming an electrical connectionwith the spring 68. The other end of the screw 70 is connected to ashort flexible insulated con ductor wire 76. Also disposed in the plug70 is a screwthreaded member 78 extending through and electricallyconnected with the rear end of the conductor 64 by virtue of an offsetflange 80 being formed on the conductor 64 with the screw-threadedmember 78 extending therethrough. The outer end of the member 78 isprovided with an insulated flexible conductor wire 82 connected thereto.

The rear flat surface of the flange 66 is provided with a peripheralgroove 84 for receiving an annular sealing gasket or sealing ring 86therein. Also engaging the sealing gasket or-sealing ring is a sealingand retaining cap 88 having a central recess 90 communicating with therear surface of the plug 70. The surface of the cap 88 facing the flange66 includes an annular recess 92 matching the groove orrecess 84 therebyfurther receiving the annular sealing gasket or sealing ring for sealingthe cap 88 to the flange 66 by virtue of a plurality of clamp boltassemblies 95 similar to the clamp bolt 28 but shorter in length.

Disposed in the recess 90 is a switch assembly generally designated bynumeral 94 and including a resilient arm 96 having an arcuate base 98conforming with the curva ture of the recess 90 and secured to thebottom of the recess 90 as by screws 100. One of the screws 100 receivesthereunder the conductor 76 whereby the resilient arm 96 is electricallyconnected to the conductor 76. A transverse bar 102 underlies theresilient arm 96 in spaced relation to the base 98 and also in spacedrelation to the free end of the arm 96. The bar 102 is secured in placeby screws 104 and one of thescrews 104 receives the end of the conductor82 thereby electrically connecting the bar 102 to the conductor 64 whilethe arm 96 is electrically connected to the base of the dry cellbatteries 14. A retaining clip 106 is provided in overlying relation tothe free end of the resilient arm 96 to prevent its outward movementbeyond a particular point and the clip 106 is secured in place by asuitable screw 108. The resilient arm 96 is provided with ascrew-threaded contact member 110 extending therethrough in alignmentwith the bar 102 so that when the inner end of the screw 110 contactsthe bar 102, the electrical circuit between the batteries 14 and thelight bulb will be completed thereby illuminating the light bulb in aknown manner. The screw 110 is capable of adjustment so that themovement of the resilient arm 96 will cause a positive contact betweenthe screw contact 110 and the bar 102 as clearly illustrated in FIG- URE4. Inasmuch as all of the screws are relatively short, the surface ofthe cap 88 which forms the recess 90 is continuous and uninterrupted.

For operating the resilient arm 96 of the switch assembly 94, there isprovided a switch operator generally designated by numeral 112 whichincludes a casing 114 slidable in a groove 116 defined in the rearsurface of the cap 88. The casing 114 is provided with laterallyextending flanges 120 slidable in corresponding undercut grooves 122formed in the bottom of the transverse groove 116. A closure plug 124 isprovided for the end of the groove 116 to form a closure therefor afterthe switch actuator 112 has been assembled therein. The casing 114 isprovided with a recess 126 in the inner surface thereof receiving apermanent magnet assembly 128 which is of the Alnico type and isrelatively strong for its size. As illustrated, the permanent magnet 128is relatively adjacent to the resilient arm 96 and the outer end portionof the resilient arm 96 is constructed of a ferrous material or aferrous material may be attached thereto if the resilient arm isconstructed of brass material. In either event, the free end of theresilient arm will be attracted by the magnet field produced by thepermanent magnet 128 when the permanent magnet 128 is moved intoalignment with the free end of the resilient arm 96. This will draw theresilient arm towards the magnet thus causing the contact screw 110 topositively engage the contact bar 102 for completing the circuit. As thepermanent magnet 128 is moved to its opposite position from thatillustrated in FIGURE 4, the magnetic field will no longer influence thefree end of the resilient arm 96 whereby the natural resiliency thereofwill cause it to move away from the bottom of the recess thus moving thecontact screw 110 away from the contact bar 102 for breaking thecircuit. An insert of ferrous material 130 is provided under the base 98so that the permanent magnet 128 will be retained in its off position.Also, the ferrous material forming the end of the resilient arm 96 orattached thereto will serve to retain the permanent magnet 128 in the onposition to prevent accidental movement of the permanent magnet fromeither of its extreme positions due to vibrations or the like therebyrequiring manual force to be exerted on the housing 114 to manually movethe magnet. Also, since the permanent magnet 128 is exposed to theexterior surface of the flashlight, the components of the magnet Will beelectroplated with a corrosive resistant material which will notmaterially affect the magnetic field produced thereby.

Thus, with the construction of the present invention, a

completely watertight and fiuidtight flashlight is provided which iscapable of use by divers under water at relatively great depths withoutleakage and also capable of being used in atmospheres of inflammable orexplosive gases or the like and yet which is relatively simple inconstruction and easy to operate and constructed of a minimum number ofparts.

The conductor 64 may conveniently be embedded in the casing when thecasing is formed. While various types of plastics or equivalentmaterials may be used, it is desirable that the material be of the highimpact type capable of withstanding rather rough usage such as mightoccur when the device is used by skin divers, fishermen or the like. Onetype of material that has been found acceptable is Plexiglas, athermoplastic acrylic resin manufactured by Rohm & Haas Co.

The dimensions of the various components of the flashlight may varydepending upon the overall size characteristics desired. For example,the dimensions of a five or six cell flashlight would be considerablylarger throughout as compared with a one or two cell flashlight. A plateglass lens is employed to eliminate scratching which would occur if atransparent plastic lens was employed. While such scratches could bepolished out of a plastic lens, such polishing. introduces opticaldistortions thereby reducing the effectiveness of the light especiallywhen used under Water.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A flashlight comprising a casing for receiving dry cell battery meanstherein, said dry cell battery means having a center terminal, awatertight head at one end of said casing, said head including a capremovably attached thereto, said cap and head including opposed surfaceshaving recess means therein receiving an annular seal ring, a pluralityof clamp bolts extending through the cap and head for rigidly clampingthe cap thereto for retaining the seal ring in compression for sealingthe head, the other end of said casing having internal switch meansmounted thereon, a reflector assembly having a conventional bulb mountedtherein, said bulb contacting said reflector assembly and said reflectorassembly engaging said center terminal of said dry cell battery means,and

said reflector assembly being in contact through an elongated conductorto said internal switch means, and an externally mounted movablemagnetic means, said switch means including means responsive to movementof the externally mounted magnetic means for operation of the switchfrom the exterior of the flashlight thereby retaining the flashlight infiuidtight condition at relatively high pressures, said externalmagnetic means including a permanent magnet, a housing of insulativematerial for said magnet, said housing being transversely slidable onthe end of the flashlight remote from the head, said switch meansincluding a ferrous component movable in response to attraction of themagnetic means when moved to a particular position, and a ferrous insertin remote relation to the switch means whereby the magnetic means willbe attracted thereto and retained in an inoperative position therebyassuring that the magnetic means will not move from either of its twopositions during normal handling of the flashlight,

2. A flashlight comprising a casing for receiving dry cell battery meantherein, a watertight head at one end of said casing, said headincluding a cap removably attached thereto, said cap and head includingopposed sur faces having recess means therein receiving an annular sealring, a plurality of clamp bolts extending through the cap and head forrigidly clamping the cap thereto for retaining the seal ring incompression for sealing the head, said head including a removablereflector assembly and bulb, said bulb being mounted in said reflectorassembly and retained in position therein by a screw threaded base, saidscrew-threaded base having a contact grommet thereon for engaging thecenter terminal on a dry cell battery, the other end of said casinghaving internal switch means mounted thereon, said switch means beingelectrically connected to the base terminal of the battery means, aconductor extending from the switch means to engagement with thereflector assembly for completion of the circuit by the base terminal ofthe dry cell battery means when the switch means is closed therebycompleting a circuit and illuminating the bulb, and an externallymounted movable magnetic means, said switch means including meansresponsive to movement of the externally mounted magnetic means foroperation of the switch from the exterior of the flashlight therebyretaining the flashlight in fiuidtight condition at relatively highpressures, said head having an annular groove forwardly of the reflectorassembly and receiving a peripheral flange on the reflector component ofthe reflector and bulb assembly, said peripheral flange. being adjacentto the open concave side of the reflector, said conductor engaging thereflector adjacent to the peripheral flange thereof, and an annular coilspring received in the groove for retaining the reflector and bulbassembly in position and also resiliently biasing the flange of thereflector against the end of the conductor thereby assuring electricalcontact therebetween.

3. A flashlight comprising an elongated tubular casing for housing anumber of conventional dry cells, a watertight head disposed at one endof the casing, a watertight switch assembly disposed at the other end ofsaid casing, said watertight head including a cap, said cap having anenlarged central bore therein terminating at its inner end in a recess,an annular gasket received within said recess and a plate glass lensreceived within said recess, said head assembly including an enlargedcylindrical portion, said cylindrical portion including an enlargedcentral bore in alignment with said bore in said cap, the outer end ofthe bore in said cylindrical portion being provided with an annularrecess comparable to the annular recess in the cap, said annular recessin the cylindrical portion receiving an annular sealing gasket and aportion of the periphery of the plate glass lens, means joining said capto said cylindrical portion for compressing the annular sealing gasketwithin the recess in the cap and in said cylindrical portion foreffectively sealing the plate glass lens to the cylindrical portion, areflector disposed in the central portion, said reflector having aconventional bulb mounted therein and being retained in position by ascrew threaded base on said bulb, said screw threaded base having acontact grommet thereon for engaging the central terminal on the drycell, said reflector being received within a second bore in thecylindrical portion forming a transition from the first bore in thecylindrical portion for removably receiving the reflector, saidreflector being provided at its outer end with a flange, an annulargroove formed in the inner end of the first bore in said cylindricalportion, said groove receiving a retaining coil spring snapped into thegroove, said coil spring serving to retain said reflector and to holdsaid reflector in contact with an elongated conductor extendingrearwardly of the casing, said switch assembly including a peripheralflange integral with the casing and a spiral compression spring engagingthe base of a dry cell battery retained within the flashlight casing, aplug disposed in the end of the casing, said plug including a centralscrew threaded member extending therethrough, said screw threaded memberhaving a headed end engaging the base of the coil compression springforming an electrical contact with the coil spring, the other end of thescrew threaded member being connected to a conductor wire, a secondscrew threaded member extending through said plug and being inelectrical contact with the rear end of the elongated conductor, theother end of said second screw threaded member being provided with aflexible conductor wire connected thereto, said flange being providedwith a peripheral groove in the rear flat surface thereof for receivingan annular sealing ring therein, a retaining cap having a central recesstherein engaging the sealing ring, said centralrecess in said retainingcap communicating with the rear surface of said plug, an annular recessin said retaining cap for receiving said annular sealing ring forsealing the cap to the flange, means in said cap and flange forcompressing the cap and flange together in sealing relationship againstsaid sealing ring, said switch assembly being disposed in the recesshaving an arcuate base conforming with the curvature of the recess andbeing secured to the bottom of the recess by screws, one of said screwsreceiving thereunder the conductor connected to the end of said firstscrew threaded member to electrically connect the resilient arm to theconductor, a transverse arm underlying the resilient arm in spacedrelation to the arcuate base and also in spaced relation to the free endof the arm, said transverse arm being secured in place by screws one ofwhich receives the end of the conductor connected to the second of saidscrew threaded members thereby electrically connecting the transversebar to the elongated conductor, a screw threaded contact member in saidresilient arm extending therethrough in alignment with said bar toprovide an electrical circuit between the batteries and the light bulbwhen the inner end of said screw contact member contacts said bar, aswitch operator slid-ably disposed in a groove defined in the rearsurface of said cap, a permanent magnet assembly in said switcha'ssemblyfor attracting the resilient arm of said switch assembly whenthe permanent magnet of said switch assembly is moved into alignmentwith the free end of the resilient arm thereby drawing the resilient armtowards the magnet and thus causing the contact screw to positivelyengage the transverse bar for completing the'circuit.

I References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,024 7/1933 Abbotts.

2,176,301 10/1939 Haas ZOO- X 2,431,518 11/ 1947 Stigler 24010.662,673,404 3/1954 Abrahamson 240-52.15 X 2,734,123 2/1956 Gerber 240-23,025,372 3/1962 Benson 20087.3 3,162,376 12/1964 Syoichi Furuya24010.66

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,268,841 6/1961 France.

730,588 g 5/ 1955 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

1. A FLASHLIGHT COMPRISING A CASING FOR RECEIVING DRY CELL BATTERY MEANSTHEREIN, SAID DRY CELL BATTERY MEANS HAVING A CENTER TERMINAL, AWATERTIGHT HEAD AT ONE END OF SAID CASING, SAID HEAD INCLUDING A CAPREMOVABLY ATTACHED THERETO, SAID CAP AND HEAD INCLUDING OPPOSED SURFACESHAVING RECESS MEANS THEREIN RECEIVING AN ANNULAR SEAL RING, A PLURALITYOF CLAMP BOLTS EXTENDING THROUGH THE CAP AND HEAD FOR RIGIDLY CLAMPINGTHE CAP THERETO FOR RETAINING THE SEAL RING IN COMPRESSION FOR SEALINGTHE HEAD, THE OTHER END OF SAID CASING HAVING INTERNAL SWITCH MEANSMOUNTED THEREON, A REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING A CONVENTIONAL BULB MOUNTEDTHEREIN, SAID BULB CONTACTING SAID REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY AND SAID REFLECTORASSEMBLY ENGAGING SAID CENTER TERMINAL OF SAID DRY CELL BATTERY MEANS,AND SAID REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY BEING IN CONTACT THROUGH AN ELONGATEDCONDUCTOR TO SAID INTERNAL SWITCH MEANS, AND AN EXTERNALLY MOUNTEDMOVABLE MAGNETIC MEANS, SAID SWITCH MEANS INCLUDING MEANS RESPONSIVE TOMOVEMENT OF THE EXTERNALLY MOUNTED MAGNETIC MEANS FOR OPERATION OF THESWITCH FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE FLASHLIGHT THEREBY RETAINING THEFLASHLIGHT IN FLUIDTIGHT CONDITION AT RELATIVELY HIGH PRESSURES, SAIDEXTERNAL MAGNETIC MERANS INCLUDING A PERMANENT MAGNET, A HOUSING OFINSULATIVE MATERIAL FOR SAID MAGNET, SAID HOUSING BEING TRANSVERSELYSLIDABLE ON THE END OF THE FLASHLIGHT REMOTE FORM THE HEAD, SAID SWITCHMEANS INCLUDING A FERROUS COMPONENT MOVABLE IN RESPONSE TO ATTRACTION OFTHE MAGNET MEANS WHEN MOVED TO A PARTICULAR POSITION, AND A FERROUSINSERT IN REMOTE RELATION TO SWITCH MEANS WHEREBY THE MAGNETIC MEANSWILL BE ATTRACTED THERETO AND RETAINED IN AN INOPERATIVE POSITIONTHEREBY ASSURING THAT THE MAGNETIC MEANS WILL NOT MOVE FROM EITHER OFITS TWO POSITIONS DURING NORMAL HANDLING OF THE FLASHLIGHT.